Cold as the Moon (1)

"I think they're expecting you at the palace, Fifi? Go on up the yellow brick road!" Leo pushed me, and I was almost dunked into the mud.

We needed to get some things straight before collaborating. "First of all, don't call me that."

*Second, only like five bricks are yellow!*

Leo pouted. "Why not?"

Scoffing at him, I replied, "I met you like five minutes ago."

"That's like a fairy year!" he whined as we walked along the road to the castle, which was demarcated by colorful stones like amethysts and opals outlining mostly dark bricks.

"Shouldn't it be the opposite? You're, like, immortal if the tales are true."

"Shh. It doesn't matter."

He grabbed my shirt. As I tensed, I hoped there wasn't any spit on his fingers from him putting them next to his mouth.

"Anyway, you can call me whatever you want! I don't mind. So let me call you Fifi! Ophelia's too long."

My shabby blouse stretched further as I pulled away from him, my whole back flashing the world because of a stubborn fairy. I glared. "Will it get you to stop publicly de-robing me?"

"Yes, Fifi!" He let go as I succumbed to a sigh, cheeks a bit red even though no witnesses were around.

*Someone could definitely misinterpret that…*

We strolled in surprising silence for a few minutes as I observed the remains of Mirai from its outskirts. Many of the buildings were destroyed or vacated, but it seemed new ones sprouted up as saplings. The town was as lively as ever; the chatter was audible from where Leo and I stood, and it grew louder as we approached the first houses around its circumference. The civilians piled down the streets, tending to their daily activities and obligations. They paid no mind to anything or anyone else, and despite a petty war causing a major disruption, they continued with their lives as normal. I wondered how they could do that so easily, doubtless many were separated from their families in the town.

Within fifty feet of Mirai, I stopped pacing and pulled a white wing dangling in front of me in hopes its owner would pause as well. As expected, Leo immediately retracted it. What I didn't expect, however, was for it to recoil and launch the taste of feathers and dust straight in my mouth. Stiff bones nearly gave me a broken nose.

"*'Don't touch me!'*" Leo repeated my earlier words in a shrill, mocking tone as he turned around to smirk at me. "Just kidding,"—he chuckled—"but you scared me, Fifi! Haven't you heard grabbing someone's wing is bad manners?"

*And he calls the kings dense…*

"Haven't you figured out you're the first fairy I've ever met?" I kicked the ground, thinking I would disturb some dirt, but I instead hit a gemstone dead-on and stubbed my toe.

"Shit!" I yelled, sitting down and cradling my foot.

Leo shrugged and giggled innocently, seeking acquittal. "A bit of karma." He paused as his expression became more serious. "Take your shoe and sock off a second."

I did as he said, and he healed my purpling toe as he had my other injuries. (Unfortunately, I was subjected to another violent respiratory reaction.)

"Thank you," I grumbled, yet I was genuinely grateful after being spared the pain of travelling by foot with a broken toe.

*I guess he's not—*

He retorted, "As you should be saying."

*Never mind. He is that bad.*

"Now, why did you stop us?" Leo raised his eyebrow and gestured for me to respond.

*Oh, yeah.*

The reason for all this commotion hit me once more like a train or rogue feather.

"Pardon me, but do you expect to walk into Mirai with your fancy-schmancy fairy wings and not get stared at? And aren't you guys supposed to be smaller or something so that this *isn't* an issue?" I asked as calmly as possible.

*Breathing exercises, yes.*

"Oh, thank you for reminding me! You're the best, Fifi!" Leo cheered, snapping his fingers and disappearing.

I had no idea where he wandered off until I noticed a lump in my shirt pocket that shifted. Gently, I tapped it.

"What the heck is this? A beetle?" I joked.

"Hey! It's me!" Leo screeched, thinking he was about to get squashed.

As he said that, I peeked inside the fabric, finding it was full of sand with a purple and green hammock tied to the seams.

*What did I do to deserve this? Should I repent to someone?*

"Why'd you make a beach in my pocket?" I deadpanned and used a finger to poke him.

He bit it, and I shrieked.

"It solves the problem, right?" He clapped before he laid down with sunglasses across his face.

While flicking my hand, I sighed, almost laughing at how comical all this was. A sarcastic fairy? A petty kingdom? A quest like the product of a drunken imagination? My lip turned up slightly at the thought.

"I guess so."